Growth needs careful planning

John Andrew Holden Albemarle County
Published: May 2, 2008

This is the only letter I have ever written to a paper.

I am not a “take no prisoners” environmentalist and am realistic about where we came from and the individual freedoms we have. There are benefits from growth. 

For 25 years I have lived in Charlottesville and have enjoyed every day, season and year here. This is a very special community and great place to live, but we all know that. Visitors see what we have, tell us about it and many return to live here

I see so much of the things that I love in Charlottesville under siege right now. Our parks, green spaces and water quality seem secondary to more roads and development. So many groups and individuals in this community have devoted countless hours to our environment and lately to the recognition of the Rivanna River corridor as a wildlife-filled local resource, as in fact it is. Not many cities or urbanizing counties have bald eagles, otters and a free-flowing, clean river to see on their walks, away from the sights and sounds of roads and houses.

We need to stand up for the quality of life for present and future generations.

Please support City Council and Albemarle County Board of Supervisors members who support a long-term view of Char-lottesville as a special place.

Growth may be inevitable, but let’s do it our way, with careful planning that preserves what we have.

Another city park and a wild river corridor may fall next. Be aware of the Eastern Connector and how that may take away still more green space. Each road and development seems small and justified, but we are giving up too much of those special and wonderful things that make us who we are. This is our one chance to save what we have, and it is not just about us now.